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Nearly 30 former Nittany Lions made NFL Kickoff Week rosters

September 10, 2013

Nearly 30 former Nittany Lions made NFL Kickoff Week rosters

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Twenty-six former Penn State players were on the rosters of 18 National Football League teams during NFL Kickoff Week, the second-highest total in the Big Ten Conference. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 15 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.

The Oakland Raiders feature a league-high three former Nittany Lions on their roster, including third-year starting center/guard Stefen Wisniewski, second-year defensive end Jack Crawford and rookie quarterback Matt McGloin, who made the team as a free agent. Six additional NFL squads boast two former Nittany Lions on their opening week rosters: Atlanta, Jacksonville, Miami, Minnesota, San Diego and San Francisco.

Among the other Nittany Lions who made the active roster of new teams this season were: Brett Brackett (Jacksonville), Dan Connor (New York Giants), Derek Moye (Pittsburgh), Rich Ohrnberger (San Diego), A.Q. Shipley (Baltimore) and Nate Stupar (San Francisco).

Chicago Bears All-Pro placekicker Robbie Gould is the elder statesman among former Nittany Lions, in his ninth season, and Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro linebacker Tamba Hali is second in longevity, in his eighth season. Offensive tackle Levi Brown (Arizona) and linebacker Paul Posluszny (Jacksonville) are in their seventh professional seasons.

A total of 332 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft, including 36 in the first round. Thirty-three Penn State football student-athletes have been drafted since 2006, including 15 in the first three rounds.

Penn State has had at least one alumnus on a Super Bowl team in 42 of 47 title games, including last season when All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman helped the San Francisco 49ers reach Super Bowl XLVII. Thirty-five former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 51 Super Bowl rings.